Saturday 29th December, 2018

Accra, Dec. 29, GNA -
President Nana Addo Dankwa Addo-Addo on Saturday congratulated the people in
the soon to be created regions in Ghana for the courtly manner they exercised
their constitutional right last Thursday.

The Ghana News Agency
hereby submits the congratulatory message by the President on the outcome of
the referendum held to decide on the creation of six new regions.

CONGRATULATORY
MESSAGE BY PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO ON THE RESULTS OF THE REFERENDA

On Thursday, 27th
December, 2018, Ghanaians in some affected parts of the country turned out in
their numbers to give virtually unanimous assent to the re-organisation of the
nation’s regional governance structure, so as to bring Government closer to
them, and, thereby, accelerate their socio-economic development.

This is the first
time, in a constitutional era, that regions are being created under
constitutional provisions. In each of the six affected areas, the threshold as
stipulated in the Constitution for the creation of a region to succeed, that is
at least 50 per cent turnout of the registered electorate and at least 80 per
cent of ballots cast in favour, was convincingly and spectacularly met.

The will of the
people determined the outcome of Thursday’s referenda, and I congratulate the
people in the soon to be created regions of Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Oti,
Savannah and Western North for the dignified, peaceful manner in which they
exercised their franchise and constitutional right.

The new leadership of
the Electoral Commission is to be commended for passing its first test by
ensuring the holding of free, fair and transparent referenda. The security
agencies and members of the media are also to be applauded for the invaluable
roles played towards the success of this exercise.

I thank the members
of the Brobbey Commission, led by the noted jurist, Mr. Justice S.A. Brobbey, a
retired member of the Supreme Court, for the thorough and painstaking work the
Commission did, which resulted in the recommendations that received
overwhelming, popular endorsement.

The Ghanaian people,
by this singular process, have again demonstrated to the world their deep
attachment to the principles of democratic accountability and the rule of law.
It is a harbinger of that national transformation into the free, open,
democratic state that is at the core of our national aspiration for freedom and
justice. We are chartering new paths in the growth and development of our
country, and I am confident that, together, we will put our nation onto the
path of progress and prosperity.

As we enter a new
year, let me, again, wish all the people of Ghana a happy and prosperous 2019.
May God bless us all, and our homeland Ghana, and make her great and
strong."